Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Retail & Grocers Association, representing the majority of Vermont stores that sell food, said it supports an amendment under consideration by the Vermont Senate.VRGA asked for an amendment that delays the private cause of action in Act 120 until December 31, 2017. (Current Senate language delays it until July 1, 2017). The Attorney General's Office, which will enforce the law, has taken a neutral position on the delay. The labeling law is still set to go into effect on July 1, 2016. VRGA said in a statement it believes the Attorney General’s Office will work with Vermont retailers and food processors on the orderly sell-off of existing inventory that was produced prior to the effective date of the law.
“Although a national law is preferable, we support disclosing information to consumers on GMO ingredients,” VRGA president, Jim Harrison said. “And we support an amendment contained in H.875 to Vermont’s law to make the implementation a little smoother this summer and beyond.”
VRGA believes that it is disingenuous for some groups to rail against any change that would improve implementation and just assume everything is going to be satisfactory. It would be in their best interest and the public’s, VRGA said, to ensure that the law works. Vermont retailers and food producers cannot “just hope for the best.”
Educational efforts to industry members began immediately after labeling regulations were set in motion nearly one year ago. Those efforts continue today to ensure compliance with the Vermont law. However, many producers within and outside of Vermont still have questions on how the law will work and despite efforts, they will not all be ready by July 1.
There will likely be some interruptions in supply this summer as food companies change over their labeling to comply with Vermont’s first in the nation GMO labeling law. The association is working with industry members to minimize those disruptions in the absence of a national uniform labeling law.
“We should all be coordinating efforts to make this legislation achievable for businesses and consumers, rather than sit back and throw darts,” said Harrison. “VRGA wants to make this legislation work and applauds the Senate leadership for making a start toward that goal.”
Source: VRGA 4.25.2016